UN Relocation

I read a comment earlier today at Gates of Vienna, suggesting that if Jerusalem is to be split between Israel and the Palestinians, the UN should relocate their headquarters to this city. I have to say, this is a very good idea for a number of reasons.

First, the UN does not belong in the United States. Although the US gives far more money and resources to the UN, the interests of the UN rarely coincide with those of the United States. Most countries tend to view the US as an obstacle to peace, if not the enemy and instigator of conficts worldwide. Let them move from their comfy building in Turtle Bay and take up residence in another country.

Putting the UN in a fairly hostile area, would force them to adapt their policies to match the reality on the ground. Their infatuation with the Palestinians as "victims" and "the oppressed" would quickly change since they would have to deal with the threat of suicide bombings. The UN would be forced to actively disarm terrorist groups and enforce "safe zones" that failed so miserably in Bosnia. Instead of constant "dialogue", the UN would have to actually punish either side that instigated violence to ensure their own safety.

It has always been easy for the UN to talk mindessly of condemnations and how unhappy it is with events like Rwanda, Bosnia, and Darfur, instead of taking any action to prevent atrocities and persecution. These situations have revealed what the UN really stands for - it doesn't have the stomach to prevent violence, but instead would rather create a place for countries to discuss matters without actually having to do anything. So, while the UN is patting itself on the back for getting hundreds of countries to sit down together, the real victims of the violence continue to suffer. And with the established union of Islamic countries, there will not be much action taken in places like Darfur and Somalia where genocide and oppression takes place...but the reality of the situation is not what matters, just the fantasy diplomacy does.